NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 09/26/07 -- Nielsen//NetRatings, a service of The Nielsen Company, reported today that it has taken the industry lead in the Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation process, having previously completed the pre-audit, and now commenced the full audit. The audit is divided into several phases covering different pieces of the Nielsen//NetRatings methodology; currently the MRC is reviewing the patented Nielsen//NetRatings desktop meter and data transmittal processes.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) updated the marketplace on Nielsen//NetRatings' progress in a press release issued last week. http://www.iab.net/news/pr_2007_09_17.asp

"We are very proud of our significant progress in the MRC accreditation process, both before and after the IAB Summit," said Manish Bhatia, president, global services and U.S. sales for Nielsen Online. "Nielsen//NetRatings has always been committed to measurement quality and transparency, and we welcome the opportunity to have our methodology and patented technologies validated by a respected third party like the MRC. Having shared our pre-audit results with the MRC's audit committee and begun the full audit, we have taken the industry leadership position in this process, and we look forward to seeing it to completion in a timely manner."

Given the newness of Internet audience measurement, the MRC has asked Nielsen//NetRatings to conduct a number of research studies demonstrating the effectiveness of certain aspects of its methodology which, as an accreditation service, the MRC has not previously seen or evaluated. Nielsen//NetRatings has commenced work on these studies, is sharing early results that validate components of its methodology with the MRC audit committee, and will continue to work on the studies on behalf of the MRC.

For more information on this process, please see the accompanying MRC Accreditation Update included in the IAB press release.

About Nielsen//NetRatings

Nielsen//NetRatings, a service of The Nielsen Company, delivers leading Internet media and market research solutions. With high quality, technology-driven products and services, Nielsen//NetRatings is the global standard for Internet audience measurement and premier source for online advertising intelligence, enabling clients to make informed business decisions regarding their Internet and digital strategies. The Nielsen//NetRatings portfolio includes panel-based and site-centric Internet audience measurement services, online advertising intelligence, user lifestyle and demographic data, e-commerce and transaction metrics, and custom data, research and analysis. For more information, please visit www.nielsen-netratings.com.

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